(Photo from Tara King - Nature Conservancy of Canada.)
Bruce Power is contributing to the acquisition of ecologically important habitat land in Northern Bruce Peninsula by the Nature Conservancy of Canada by providing $60,000.
The 395 acres of land on Britain Lake, about 30 kilometres east of Tobermory, connects to other conservation properties owned by the Bruce Trail Conservancy. All together, this creates a permanent conservation corridor of over 1,100 acres along the Niagara Escarpment.
In addition to this funding, an additional $20 million investment from the provincial government was announced by Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker to support ecological important sites over four years, and this project will directly be affected by this allocation.
Bruce Power’s Director of Environment and Sustainability, Danielle LaCroix states in the release, this land acquisition creates a critical corridor for a wide range of mammal and other wildlife like migratory birds, “and helps ensure a sustainable ecosystem for future generations to enjoy.”
According to Bruce Power, the conservation site also provides a high-quality habitat for wildlife for high-risk animals like the Massasauga rattler and Canada warbler, while also supporting mixed forest communities that provide food sources and hibernation sites.
Program Director at Midwestern Ontario Saugeen Bruce Peninsula with the Nature Conservancy of Canada Esme Batten says, “the Saugeen Bruce Peninsula is world-renowned for its biodeversity and we are excited to have the opportunity to advance conservation in this amazing place with the future protection of the Britain Lake property.”
She also notes the total amount to acquire this land is $410,000 and the remainder of the costs will be supplemented through the donors and partners they work with.
According to Bruce Power, since 2015, they have provided a total of $195,000 to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to support land conservation and planning efforts.